A late appreciation for a late ad man.

Just before New Year's, a legend in the ad business died. Most of you have never heard his name, but all of you should remember his commercials.

Phil Dusenberry was the creative head of BBDO, that's Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, the agency Fred Allen said sounded like a trunk fallling down stairs. Phil was the guy who gave us those terrific Pepsi spots of the 80's, including the classic with Michael J. Fox and the memorable one that turned Michael Jackson into a human torch. That inspired the book, Then We Set His Hair On Fire: Insights and Accidents From A Hall of Fame Career in Advertising.

He also gave us Morning In America for Ronald Reagan's re-election, but the spot was so good I won't hold that against him.

And right after 9/11, he created the Miracle in New York commercials, inviting people to visit the greatest city in the world.

I won't hold the mayor against him, either.

I just wanted to raise a glass to a great practitioner of the art of hokum. He made it look easy.